About

An Island in Time

Swan Island, at the head of Merrymeeting Bay, welcomes hikers, campers, birders, anglers, wildlife watchers and explorers to its shores for an unforgettable Maine experience. Visitors may immerse themselves in history, surround themselves in nature and discover abundant wildlife. There is a kids-only trout fishing pond, a wildlife viewing tower and special food plots for wildlife. This State Wildlife Management Area preserves a part of history and a place in time. Come visit!

Swan Island is a small island with a large history. In centuries past, Abanaki Indians had a summer hunting camp here. While some claim the island was named by English explorers for migrating swans, others believe the name is short for ‘Swango,’ the Abanaki word for ‘island of eagles.’ Evolving into an active farming community during the 1800s, over 100 people in 27 homes lived and worked here. Five historic homes still stand today. The island is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) began acquiring island properties in the 1940s. By 1988, it became the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area in its entirety.